Capsule-molding machine



Sept. 8. 1925. Q 1, 1, A. C. HOPKINS ET AL CAPSULE MOLDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 6. i924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 .INVENTOR. Arthur C. No kind BY f'red B.E cle 17 mar f WIiORNEYS I Sept. 8, 1925.-

A. c. HOPKINS ETY'AL CAPSULE MOLDING' MACHINE Filed Oct. 6. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 11v VENTOR flr'fhjur, 0. Hopkins Fred .8. f, cleshymer ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 8, 1925.

ARTHUR c; HOPKINS Ann FRED B; EYCLESHYMER, or NILES, MICHIGAN.-

[UNIT D STATES ATENT OFFICE.

CAPSULE-MOLDING MACHINE Application a... October a, 1924. Serial m5. 742,033.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that we, ARTHUR C. Hor- KINS and FRED B. EYCLESHYMER, citizens of the United States, residing at Niles, county of Berrien, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Capsule-Molding Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in capsule molding machines.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide an improved capsule molding machine which is of very large capacity.

Second, to provide an improved capsule molding machine in which the formed capsules are automatically ejected or discharged from the machine.

, Third, to provide an improved capsule mold which results in a minimum of waste of the capsule material.

Objects pertaining to details and economies of construction and operation of our invention will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

We accomplish the objects of our invention by the devices and means described in the following specification. The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims.

- A structure which is a preferred embodiment of our invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. I is a front elevation of a capsule molding machinev embodying the features of our invention, parts being broken away for convenience in illustration.

Fig. II is a. fragmentary side elevation of the machine closed and prior to the actuation of the stripper or ejector.

Fig. III is a fragmentary vertical section on a line corresponding to line 3-3 of Fig. II.

Fig. IV is a fragmentary sectional view corresponding to that of Fig. III with the mold fully open.

Fig. V is a fragmentary section corresponding to that of Fig. III showing the position ofthe parts with the stripper released.

Fig. VI is a fragmentary section corresponding to that of Fig. V showing the stripper in actuated position.

Fig. VII is a detail vertical section showing details ofthe stripper.

Fi VIII is a fra menta lan viewof the ti bttom mold. g 7 In the drawing the sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the section lines and similar numerals of reference refer to simi lar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawing, the embodi-' by the numeral 6 is mounted upon the plunger 3. The bottom mold 6 is shown in plan in Fig. VIII. The top mold is of the same construction.

These molds have a plurality of rectangular cells 7 open at the top and bottom. These cells are formed by intersecting partition walls 8 and 9, the walls of the two mold members being in alinement as shown in the sectional views in Figs. III, V, VI and VII. The bottom mold member 6 is set into the plunger 3 with the upper ed of its cells somewhat below the upper e go of the plunger,-thereby permitting the bot tom sheet 10 of capsule forming material being arranged thereon as shown in Fig.-

shown in Fig. II, the opposed walls of the cells forcing the filler from between the walls and pressing the casing together, thereby sealing the same. By forming the cells of the thin fiat partitions as shown in the drawing there is a minimum of waste of casing material and the sealing pressure is uniform.

The sealed capsules are ejected by a strip per comprising a plate 13 having a pluralit of stripperfingers 14 alined with the f said fingers having longitu mol cells, these fingers having cupped tips 15 conformed so that the edges of the cups engage the capsules at their sealed edges and the sides of the cups engage the top sides of the capsules adjacent their edges so that there is nodanger of rupturing the capsules, and they are stripped or ejected by pushing downwardly through the bottom mold cells as illustrated in Fig. VI. The fingers have longitudinal air passages 16 therein for the escape of air as the cupped tips of the fingers engage the capsules.

The stripper is actuated by means of the springs 17 mounted on the head 2 to engage the stripper plate 13. On the up stroke of the plunger 3 it engages the supports 18 which are pivoted at 19 on the stripper plate and have beveled edges 20 and shoulders 21. The supports are balanced so that they normally swing into the position shown in Fig. VI, the plunger engaging the beveled ends 20 to swing them out slightly and offectively engaging the shoulders 21.

As the plunger moves upwardly the springs are compressed as shown in Fig. III and the pivoted dogs 22 engage the keepers 23 on the supports as shown in Fig. III. As soon as the plunger 3' starts on its return movement the dogs 22 release the supports 18 thereby freeing the stripper for actuation by the springs 17. The stripper plate 13 is arranged above the cells of the top mold and is supported thereby when in fully actuated position, see Fig. VI.

ur improved capsule mold is of large capacity, the product is uniform, the capsules being effectively sealed, and there is fi a minimum of waste of the casing material.

We have illustrated and described our improvements in an embodiment which we have found very desirable. We have not attempted to illustrate or describe certain modifications or adaptations as we believe the disclosure made will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt the same as may be desired.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: r

1. In a capsule mold, the combination of a reciprocating plun er, an overhan g frame, a bottom mol member moun on said plunger, a coacting to mold member mounted on said frame, sai mold members having op osed rectangular open cells arranged w1t the walls thereof in alinement, a stripper mounted. on said frame and provided with stripper fingers alined with said cells and having on peid tips conformed so that the edges an sides of tilt. capsules adjacent their edges are en aged thereby,

inal air passlprings for said ly mounted. f l1 sages therein, actuating stripper, supports pivota said stri peer to be en aged by said plunger on the stroke t ereof whereby said springs are placed under com remion, and tripping dog's mounted on sai head to engage 'said supports whereby the stripper is released on the initial return movement of the plunger.

2. In a capsule mold, the combination of a reciprocatmg plunger, an overhan g frame, a bottom mold member mounte on said plunger, a coacting to mold member mounted on said frame, sai -mold members having 0 posed rectangular open cells arranged w1th the walls thereof in alinement, a stripper mounted on said frame and provided with stripper fingers alined with said cells, actuating springs for said stripper, supports pivotally mounted .on said stripper to be engaged by said plunger on the up stroke thereof whereby said s rings are placed under compression, an tripping dogs mounted on said head to engage said supports whereby the stripper is released on the initial return movement of the plunger.

3. In a capsule mold, the combination of a reciprocating plunger, an overhan 'ng frame, a bottom mold member mounted on said plunger, a coacting to mold member mounted on said frame, sai mold members having opposed rectangular open cells arranged with the walls thereof m alinement, a stripper mounted on said frame and provided with stripper fingers alined with said cells and having cup ed tips conformed so that the edges and si es of the capsules adjacent their edges are engaged thereby, said ngers having longitudinal air passages therein, and means for actuating said stripper.

4. In a ca sule mold, the combination of a reciprocatmg plunger, anoverhanging frame, a bottom mold member mounted on said plunger, a coacting to mold member mounted on said frame, sai mold members having opposed rectangular open cells arranged with the walls thereof in alinement, a stripper mounted on said frame and provided with stripper fingers alined with said cells, and means for actuating said stripper.

5. A capsule mold comprising coacting mold members having open cells, eating means for opening and closing said mold, a stri per provided with a plurality of fingers a ined with said cells, a spring means for actuating said stripper, and means for holding said stripper in retracted position released on the initial return movement of the plunger.

6. A ca sule mold comprising coacting mold mem rs having open cells, a reciproeating means for opening and closing said mold, and a stripper rovided with a plurality of fingers alined with said cells.

7. A capsule mold comprising coacting a reciprovided with a plurality of fingers ahned with said cells. v 8. A capsule mold comprising coacting mold members having open cells, the walls of the cells being in alinement, means for opening and closing said mold, .and an ejector provided with a plurality of fingers alined with said cells.

9. A capsule mold comprising coact'ing mold members having alined rectangular open cells formed by thin flat walls of uni- 15 form thickness.

10. A capsule mold comprising coacting mold members having opposed open cells formed by walls of uniform thickness, corresponding walls of opposed coacting cells 2 being disposed in the same plane.

In witness whereof We have hereunto set our hands.

ARTHUR C. HOPKINS. FRED B. EYCLESHYMER. 

